PaintBox Tip #17 BRUSH CARE

A new term starting and lots of new students, beginners and not-so beginners, so this is a good time to talk about how to care for your watercolour brushes.

Why?

Because they're expensive - my first natural bristle brush cost $300 - I'd better look after it!!

that was close to 25 years ago and it's still a great brush - because I look after it!!
​

1. Rinse sizing out of new brushes. Some new brushes come with gum-arabic sizing holding the bristles together. The bristles will feel hard and crusty and may be stuck together completely. To remove the glue before first use, simply swill the brush around in clean warm water and use your fingers to gently massage the sizing out of the bristles.
2. Prepare your brushes before you start painting by wetting them and letting them absorb a little water. Blot off the excess water and leave them lying flat on a towel (or tip down if you have a brush holder). You want them ready to go so they'll absorb paint and water when you want to load your brush - it's impossible to paint with a dry brush!!​​
3. Always squeeze out fresh, good quality paint at least weekly. I know this doesn't seem like brush care, however, brush bristles will wear and break if continually used to scrub at dry, nasty bird poo.
4. Don’t leave watercolour brushes standing/soaking in water. 
5. When you are finished painting for the day, rinse thoroughly with clear water, blot them gently with a clean towel and leave them to dry flat on a towel. 
6. Don't store your brushes in an airtight container, even if you think they are dry inside the ferrule. Remove your damp brushes from rolls or open brush carriers as soon as you get home.
7. Don’t panic if a natural bristle brush gets schmooshed and dries in a wonky shape, just reshape the brush using warm water. If that’s not enough to do the trick, after a few more paintings and reshaping it will probably behave again
8. Don’t trim your brushes "to get a better point". Occasionally, you will find a brush hair or two sticking straight out to the side, and the warm-water trick doesn’t fix it. In this case, the brush hair may be partially broken, and the best solution is to trim that one hair (or two) off at the ferrule.
9. Never use your good brushes for applying masking fluid! Masking fluid dries fast and is impossible to remove! 

Love your brushes and USE them lots! 

Yes, you might wear them out or even better, your brush miles will make you want a better brush - fantastic!!

ciao cari pittori!!

---